David Chin, Cindy (Shin Ji) Choi, Suzy (Ji Soo) Park, Robert (Young Jun) Kim Summary In chapter 3, Pooh talks about Inner Nature and introduces a poem called 'cottleston pie'. The story starts with Rabbit's thoughts on new inhabitants named Kanga and Roo. Rabbit did not like Kanga and Roo because they were different from him, and failed to look deeper into other's Inner Nature. Therefore, Rabbit's cleverness failed to judge one anther because after looking deeper into Kanga and Roo's Inner Nature, they were nice and kind neighbors after all. To get a deeper meaning of Inner Nature, Pooh gives a poem called the 'Cottleston Pie'.
<Cottleston Pie> Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleson Pie, A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly. Ask me a riddle and I repy: Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie, A fish can't whistle and neither can I. Ask me a riddle and I reply: Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie, Why does a chicken, I don't know why. Ask me a riddle and I reply: Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.
This poem clears up our questions! Pooh explains about Inner Nature in a simpler way with examples. The key importance in this poem is to realize that everything has its functions and place and also, limitations.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS [Q10-16]
10. What is the difference between “cleverness” and “Inner Nature?” (38) Cleverness is something that has its limitations because they are mechanical judgements and cleverness doesn’t look deeply into things. Inner nature is something special because it values the things as they are, and so decisions are made mostly from experiences.
11. Why is it important to discern your own Inner Nature? (41) It is important to discern our own Inner Nature because we are easily pushed away from inner nature. People are pushed away from Inner Nature due to their intellectual thoughts. When you know and respect your own Inner Nature, you know where you belong.
12. Explain Hoff’s interpretation of the Chinese quote: “One disease, long life; No disease, short life.” (48) When one experiences diseases, he gets to know what is wrong within his body. Therefore, he realizes his limitations and lives according to them. However, people who are healthy, they ignore their weaknesses and claim themselves perfect. They do not know their limitations, therefore live a short ilfe.
13. What does Hoff mean when he states that we must learn to “work with Things As They Are?” (50) We must learn to “work with Things As They Are” because if we do, then we do not have to have an explanation for everything and know all there are. If you work with “Things As They Are,” then you will stay out of trouble because you are respecting the genuine position and function that everything has.
14. What happens to people who do not listen to their Inner Nature? (57) These people who don’t listen to their Inner Nature are swayed by the influence of people and since they do not understand theirselves, they have little respect for what they think and they go along with what other people say.
15. What is the Way of Self-Reliance? (57-8) Is the mindset of recognizing who we are, what we’ve got to work with, and what works best for us. One must use this knowledge to self-improve and to get far in life.
16. How can we change ourselves effectively through the principles of Taoism? (58) Through the principles of Taoism, The Way of Self-Reliance allows us to recognize ourselves and learn about ourselves. Inner nature recognition helps us learn our own limitation and through the knowledge we strive to be a better person.
Chapter 3
Cottleston Pie
David Chin, Cindy (Shin Ji) Choi, Suzy (Ji Soo) Park, Robert (Young Jun) Kim
Summary
In chapter 3, Pooh talks about Inner Nature and introduces a poem called 'cottleston pie'. The story starts with Rabbit's thoughts on new inhabitants named Kanga and Roo. Rabbit did not like Kanga and Roo because they were different from him, and failed to look deeper into other's Inner Nature. Therefore, Rabbit's cleverness failed to judge one anther because after looking deeper into Kanga and Roo's Inner Nature, they were nice and kind neighbors after all. To get a deeper meaning of Inner Nature, Pooh gives a poem called the 'Cottleston Pie'.
<Cottleston Pie>
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleson Pie,
A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly.
Ask me a riddle and I repy:
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
A fish can't whistle and neither can I.
Ask me a riddle and I reply:
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,
Why does a chicken, I don't know why.
Ask me a riddle and I reply:
Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.
This poem clears up our questions! Pooh explains about Inner Nature in a simpler way with examples.
The key importance in this poem is to realize that everything has its functions and place and also, limitations.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
[Q10-16]
10. What is the difference between “cleverness” and “Inner Nature?” (38)
Cleverness is something that has its limitations because they are mechanical judgements and cleverness doesn’t look deeply into things. Inner nature is something special because it values the things as they are, and so decisions are made mostly from experiences.
11. Why is it important to discern your own Inner Nature? (41)
It is important to discern our own Inner Nature because we are easily pushed away from inner nature. People are pushed away from Inner Nature due to their intellectual thoughts. When you know and respect your own Inner Nature, you know where you belong.
12. Explain Hoff’s interpretation of the Chinese quote: “One disease, long life; No disease, short life.” (48)
When one experiences diseases, he gets to know what is wrong within his body. Therefore, he realizes his limitations and lives according to them. However, people who are healthy, they ignore their weaknesses and claim themselves perfect. They do not know their limitations, therefore live a short ilfe.
13. What does Hoff mean when he states that we must learn to “work with Things As They Are?” (50)
We must learn to “work with Things As They Are” because if we do, then we do not have to have an explanation for everything and know all there are. If you work with “Things As They Are,” then you will stay out of trouble because you are respecting the genuine position and function that everything has.
14. What happens to people who do not listen to their Inner Nature? (57)
These people who don’t listen to their Inner Nature are swayed by the influence of people and since they do not understand theirselves, they have little respect for what they think and they go along with what other people say.
15. What is the Way of Self-Reliance? (57-8)
Is the mindset of recognizing who we are, what we’ve got to work with, and what works best for us. One must use this knowledge to self-improve and to get far in life.
16. How can we change ourselves effectively through the principles of Taoism? (58)
Through the principles of Taoism, The Way of Self-Reliance allows us to recognize ourselves and learn about ourselves. Inner nature recognition helps us learn our own limitation and through the knowledge we strive to be a better person.